Few months after the business were fully setup. It was off to a good start with more and more customers everyday. I started to add on few other services to it. Stationeries were selling inside the business, movies were shows during business hours which is from 8:30 to 9:30pm. Kids and adults were absolutely loved it. It was clean and friendly environment. Two employees were hired to help me. One thing that I've learned while in Tonga was how Tongan people react to someone who own a business. They think that you're super rich and should give them money every week for nothing. Long relatives or I never heard of them are trying harder to clarify how you're connected to them through unlce or aunty of your great great great grandfather.... I guess I was warned before that something like that would come up. My father was the first person who always by my side to guide me through the whole operation of the business. I was truly blessed that he was still in Tonga that time. Ok..business was running smoothly as usual and few services were added to the business to accommodate the need of customers. But one thing I forgot to be more awared of, is whats happenning in the country and government.
Few months later from the openning of the business, there were political unsettled all over the country. Few members of the Parliament were so greety and wanted to change the system. I guess they watch too much TV and wanted to be famous. The idea of Political changes in Tonga were great but their intention were wrong.
Tonga in general is consider one of the development country but most of all, is world known for the friendly of its people. They all respect their king and royal families, etc. But during my time in Tonga, it wasn't very different. Few members of the Parliament were dissatisfied with the system created a Politcial group called, "Liliu" or "Change". Their idea were good but how they approach it were very different. They want to reduce the power of the Royal family and give more power to the people. They started to manipulate crazy people to start voicing their opinion and started the crazy black day in Tonga on November 16, 2006. I will never forget that day.
November 16, 2006, my youngest sister "Siale" was just arrived in Tonga, returning from her mission in Fresno, California for 18 months. I was so excited to have her work with me in the business. I won't trust anyone more than my own sister. Went to work that day and open the business as usual. My sister came to meet me in the business and while we were talking, we heard noisy outside. Few minutes later, people were all over the street, swearing, throwing rocks at the businesses, turning cars on the street upside down. Burning and looting occured as they continued to do that all businesses in town. I left that day not knowing what will happen. I let all customers leave the business and then close up the business for the day. Taking nothing but my purse with money of the day hoping to return to normal business day the next day.
There were smokes everywhere that day, people went crazy and looting were non-stop. Women and children to men of all ages were looting from local businesses. Most of the businesses were owned by Chinese people or foreigners. I haven't seen anything like that before and never in my wildest dream to ever think that Tonga, the smallest tiny country on the map would do such a horrible thing like that. All other business who managed to hired securities to guarded their business were safe. I kept myself far away from the business as I was afraid of what might happen to me and my son. It was the craziest day that I ever experience in my entire life.
Few days later, I got an approval from the Military to go in for inspection of my business. And to my surprise I found nothing but ashes. I drop down crying inside my business as I just lost everything. I lost my passport, my son's passport and few other very important documents of mine. All the pictures of my trip to Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii to my sister's graduation, etc were all turned into ashes. I feel like I shouldn't be living anymore. I don't know why these crazy dumn people don't just come and burn myself inside my business. Few lives were dead that day in different businesses. I hate the Tongan people, eventhough I am one. I promise to leave this country and never to return.
